State Sen. J.J. Dossett has filed legislation to assure students, parents and educators that the results of a single reading test won’t cause children to be held back. Dossett, a former teacher, said when the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA) was originally approved in 2011, the idea was to use a federally-mandated reading test to determine…
Broken Arrow teacher Donna Gradel, the 2019 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year, is a finalist for the 2019 National Teacher of the Year. Gov. Kevin Stitt, who pledged to make public education more effective, made the announcement last week in Broken Arrow. “Donna’s teaching philosophy is that every student has potential no matter his or…
Grassroots groups throughout Oklahoma will rally February 11-13 in Oklahoma City to support the abolishment of abortion in the state and support Senate Bill 13. Sen. Joseph Silk, R-Broken Bow, spoke at a rally Saturday in Edmond and was joined by leaders of the abolishment movement. Senate Bill prohibits the use of abortion under any…
The full House of Representatives officially elected state Rep. Charles McCall, R-Ada, to serve as Speaker of the House for the 57th Oklahoma Legislature during Organizational Day. Organizational Day is a constitutionally mandated day for the Legislature to convene and certify the election results from November, formally seat newly elected members and elect House leadership….
Sen. Ron Sharp filed three bills in response to the multi-county grand jury’s findings in May concerning the State Department of Health’s financial deception in recent years. The grand jury’s six month investigation found that the agency had been withholding financial information, including a $30 million “slush” fund, from the legislature for several years. The…
Gov. Kevin Stitt has appointed Sean Kouplen as the next Secretary of Commerce and Workforce Development, a cabinet position that will require Senate confirmation, and the hiring of Brent Kisling as the next executive director of the Department of Commerce. “Sean Kouplen is a proven business leader and entrepreneur, full of vision, energy and passion…
Dec. up 13.4%, ‘18 up 13.2% State revenues increased by 13.2 percent – more than $1.5 billion – in 2018 compared to 2017, according to new State Treasurer Randy McDaniel. The state took in a little less than $13 billion in taxes in 2018, with $1.1 billion coming in December. December 2018 was $135 million…
State revenues have been setting records every month for a year yet the State Board of Equalization has authorized a budget surplus of $612 million. Gov. Kevin Stitt wants to move slowly on allocating a surplus. Republican leaders urge caution because of the up-and-down nature of energy prices. And Democrats want a tax increase to…
A bill has been filed Wednesday to eliminate a controversial program that provides free pregnancy-related care for illegal aliens. Sen. Paul Scott filed Senate Bill 40 hoping to stop state funds from providing healthcare to pregnant illegal immigrants under the Soon-to-be-Sooners Program (STBS). “I filed this bill to bring to light the fact that the…
Following public outcry about school funding and concern over high administrative salaries, Sen. Ron Sharp filed legislation to make superintendent salaries a completely local decision. Senate Bill 60 would require superintendent salaries and fringe benefits to be paid with only district (ad valorem dollars) and dedicated local funds. The bill would stop any state appropriated…